United Kingdom visa requirements for Sierra Leoneans

Travel and visa requirements

Basic Travel Requirements for Sierra Leoneans visiting United Kingdom

Travelers are required to fulfill the following requirements in order to apply for a Briton Visa.

United Kingdom Visa for Sierra Leoneans

Facts about United Kingdom

The United Kingdom consists of four countries which are: England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland.
London, the capital of the United Kingdom is a great location for tourist and it's also its largest city.

The United Kingdom is one of the largest economy based on nominal GDP and is a very popular choice destination among business people. A lot of tourists also visit the country because of the wonderful sites to visit and the rich history of the country. Tourists who visit can easily bask in the gorgeous view of many of the city’s landmarks from the Coca-cola London Eye as well as many historical sites.

London is home to a wide range of attractions: art at galleries such as the National Gallery, The National Portrait Gallery, The Tate, and the Tate Modern, amongst others. There are cultural treats in the theatres and cinema of the West End and South Bank, and the recreated home of Shakespeare in the capital, the Globe. 

The Edinburgh Castle, Stonehenge. The Georgian architecture, Roman Baths, York Minister, Canterbury Cathedral and Shakespeare's Birthplace are some interesting landmarks to visit in the UK.

With 36.115 million people visiting in 2015, The United Kingdom is the sixth top destination for tourists. This number has steadily been on the rise since 2015.

Types of United Kingdom Visa

Types of Visa Processing Time Duration of Stay
Visitor Visa 10-20 days 90 days
Work visa 10-20 days 1-5 years
Student visa 10-20 days 1-5 years
Transit visa 10-20 days 1-5 days

General Requirements for United Kingdom Visa

United Kingdom Visitor Visa United Kingdom Work visa United Kingdom Student visa United Kingdom Transit visa

United Kingdom Visitor Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • This visa is issued to those who intend to travel to the UK for visiting, tourism, business & medical purposes.
  • The standard visitor visa is used as the family visitor visa, general visitor visa, child visitor visa, business visitor visa, sports visitor visa, entertainer visitor visa and prospective entrepreneur visa.
  • If you are visiting anyone in the UK, a letter of invitation is required from your host. 
  • The name, address and passport number of your host should be included as part of the documents.
  • A consistent income of about the equivalent of 500 pounds and above is considered a safe amount to have before travel consideration.
  • You are expected to apply for a UK visa 3 months before your intended departure date.
  • Businessmen and women can attend meetings, conferences & training with this visa.
  • If you are traveling for business, you will need to include, a letter of invitation/confirmation of training/confirmation of conference and full details for an authorized representative from your company and their contact details.
  • For applicants who want to enter Great Britain for medical purposes, a medical attestation from the hospital or doctor in the UK, confirming the date of your appointment as well as your medical situation is required.
  • You are to submit a letter from your local medical practitioner stating your medical condition.
  • You are not allowed to work with this visa.
  • You are also not allowed to use this visa for educational purposes.

United Kingdom Work Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • Foreigners who have been offered a skilled job in the United Kingdom are those who can apply for this visa type.
  • The visa can either be a critical skills work visa, an intra-country transfer work visa or a general work visa.
  • Before applying  for a residence permit in the United Kingdom, you must have be employed by a licensed sponsor in the country. Your application must have been thoroughly assessed by your employer before you will be assigned a certificate of sponsorship.
  • You will also need to pay a fee of £19.20 for your biometric features to be captured.
  • The duration of your stay in the United Kingdom is 5 years and 14 days, or the duration stated in your certificate of sponsorship, plus an extra month.
  • As part of your application, it is mandatory that you pay a healthcare surcharge.
  • You are required to submit a valid certificate of sponsorship for your job.
  • You must also show that you are being paid an appropriate salary for your job.
  • Applicants must have applied for a work and residence permit in the UK. The process of getting this permit must have been aided by the employer in the UK.
  • With this visa, you can give lectures at higher education institutions as long as it is not a part-time or full-time role.
  • This visa also allows you to take part in entertainment and sporting activities.
  • You must also provide a criminal record certificate if you will be working with vulnerable people such as in an educational institution, a healthcare institution or as a social worker.
  • You need to get a certificate of sponsorship reference number from your employer to include on your application. It is an electronic record that holds your personal details and information about the job you’ve been offered. The reference number can be used only once within 3 months of getting it.

United Kingdom Student Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • This visa is for applicants over 16 years that have been offered  to study any course in a UK learning institution.
  • A letter of acceptance to study in the UK will be required to process this visa.
  • You will be required to prove your knowledge of English by passing a secure English language test.
  • A reference number called a confirmation of acceptance for studies (CAS) should be gotten from your educational institution in the UK as you will need it for your visa application.
  • You are required to have enough finances to support yourself and pay for the course for the entire duration of your stay in the UK.
  • Your biometric detail will be collected in order for your visa application can be processed.
  • If you are staying in the UK to study for longer than 6 months, you must apply for a biometric residence permit.
  • To extend the general student visa (tier 4), you must apply for an extension at most 3 months before your current visa expires.
  • Those who have the intention of doing a short course of study in any of the academic institutions in the United Kingdom would be issued a Short-Stay Study visa.
  • A 6-month short-stay visa costs £97 while an 11-month short-stay visa costs £186.
  • Foreigners are expected to have a Tuberculosis test result if they have the intention of staying in the UK for more than 6 months.
  • You may be required to provide academic certificates, references or transcripts from schools previously attended.
  • For students between the ages of 4 and 17, a child-student visa is issued to them study in a school in the UK.
  • You can arrive in the UK 1 week before your course starts if the course duration is 6 months or less and up to one month if it is more.

United Kingdom Transit Visa Eligibility & Requirements

  • The Direct Airport transit visa is issued to travelers who want to connect with other countries through the UK.
  • This visa allows foreigners to transit through the country to their destination country.
  • The UK transit visa is valid for 48 hours.
  • A copy of flight ticket to  your destination country is required.
  • You are required to have the visa  to your destination country.
  • Holders of this visa are neither allowed to work or study while they are in the country.
  • This visa cannot  extended. 
  • If you are unable to prove that the sole purpose of visiting the United Kingdom is to transit to a third country, you will not be granted this visa.

United Kingdom Visa Fees

Visa Type

Sub Types

Visa Fees

Visitor Visa

95.00 (GBP)

Work visa

348.00 (GBP)

Student visa

348.00 (GBP)

Transit visa

348.00 (GBP)

United Kingdom Visa Application Centres & Embassies in Sierra Leone

Location

Address

Freetown

British High Commission. 6 Spur Road, Freetown, Sierra Leone.

www.gov.uk/government/world/sierra-leone

freetown.general.enquiries@fco.gov.uk

(+232) 99 801 493, (+232) 78 200 190

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I work in the UK with a visitor visa?

No, you cannot work in the UK with a visitor visa. You may, however, be able to study for up to 30 days as long as that is not the main reason for your travel to the UK.

Can I extend my stay in the UK if I have a Visitor Visa?

If you hold a Standard Visitor visa, you can apply for an extension as long as your total stay in the UK does not exceed 6 months. That is, if you apply for a 3-month visa, you can apply for an additional 3 months.

Is the Great Britain safe?
Yes, it is one of the safest places in the world.  However, remember to always observe caution whenever you are in unfamiliar territory.

Can I travel with an expired passport?

No, it is highly intolerable to apply for a visa with an expired passport. You are to get it renewed before applying for a UK visa.